Who are “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places”?

Explanation:

Paul explains that by reconciling Jews and Gentiles through the gospel (Ephesians 3:6), the church is gathered, through which God’s manifold wisdom is displayed (Ephesians 3:10). This wisdom is displayed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies. So, who are the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies? While Paul is not specific in Ephesians 3:10, in Ephesians 6:12 he again mentions the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies. What is different about these two mentions is that in Ephesians 6:12, he is crystal clear: the rulers and authorities are the cosmic forces of evil that are at work in the world, which the believers must resist. The fact that Paul uses the same terminology in both Ephesians 3:10 and Ephesians 6:12 suggests that he has at least this group of evil powers in mind in both cases.

Of course, we also know from Scripture that there are other heavenly beings who are not opposed to God. These beings, otherwise known as angels, are not simple bystanders when it comes to God’s plans but often act as his messengers and servants. Interestingly, 1 Peter tells us that these very beings are not only active with God in his work, but they also long to look into the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:12). What Paul explains in Ephesians 3:10 is that since Christ has reconciled Jews and Gentiles, the gospel of salvation, expressed in the unity of the church, is now on full display for those angels to grasp.^5,6,7,8

Counterargument:

While it is true that 1 Peter 1:12 says that angels long to look into the gospel of salvation, we are dealing with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This means we ought to consider what he meant when he wrote that the manifold wisdom of God is on display through the church for the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies. Seeing that he uses the same expression in Ephesians 6:12 to indicate that the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies are evil powers, we should assume that this is the reference he has in mind in Ephesians 3:10.⁹ Of course Paul would agree that the good angels longed to look into the gospel of salvation, but he does not have the good angels in mind in Ephesians 3:10.

Response to counterargument:

While it is true that Paul explicitly points out that there are rulers and authorities in the heavenlies that are evil (Ephesians 6:12), we also know that there are rulers and authorities in the heavenlies that are good. For example, we know from Ephesians 1:20–21 that God raised Christ and seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies. We also know that Christ raised up believers with him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). Further, we have indication from Ephesians 3:15 that every family in heaven and earth is named from the Father. Each of these instances suggests that the heavenlies are not only a place for evil powers, but also a place where good powers reside. Since Paul includes both good and evil powers that reside in the heavenlies in his letter, we can assume that he has both good and evil powers in mind in Ephesians 3:10.¹⁰

Explanation:

When we consider Ephesians 3:10 in context, we find that the Gentiles’ inclusion in God’s promises was a mystery to every generation until Jesus’ ministry (Ephesians 3:4–6). This mystery was made known to Paul by revelation (Ephesians 3:3). This mystery was revealed only recently not only to Paul but to the other prophets and apostles as well (Ephesians 3:5). In fact, no generation before then understood the manifold wisdom of God in the sense that through Christ, the Gentiles would be grafted as heirs of the promises (Ephesians 3:6). In other words, this mysterious plan, now laid bare to the apostles and prophets, was hidden for generations and is now displayed in the unity of the church. The church, which includes both Jews and Gentiles, makes known the manifold wisdom of God to all intelligent beings in every dimension (Ephesians 3:10). This includes the good angels and bad, all to the glory of God.

Counterargument:

While Paul does explain that the inclusion of the Gentiles is a new revelation to his generation, by the time we get to Ephesians 3:10 we find out that the plan had a cosmic purpose. Paul begins Ephesians 3:10 with the term so that. The term is used to express purpose. In other words, the mystery that has been hidden by God through the ages is not only that the Gentiles would be included in salvation but that through the unity of the church, God would now reconcile the rulers and authorities to him.¹¹ God makes the mystery of his will known in order to display his manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies at that time. Why? To show them that reconciliation with God is possible for them too.

Response to counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that it is hard to see why God would hide the mystery of his will through the ages, for the express purpose that now, at the time of Paul’s writing, the angels would be enlightened by the unity of the church.¹² Rather, the so that most likely refers back to Ephesians 3:7, where Paul states that for the gospel he was made a minister.¹³ Paul was made a minister so that he could preach the gospel to the Gentiles and bring to light to everyone the unsearchable riches in Christ, with the result that the church would gather and make known the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities of the heavenlies.

Possible weaknesses:

The problem with this view is that Paul is going to use identical terminology in Ephesians 6:12 when he exhorts the Ephesians to resist the dark spiritual forces at work in the world. It is hard to see how Paul could use the same unique terminology in Ephesians 6:12 but include other beings in Ephesians 3:10.

Explanation:

Paul tells us that God’s manifold wisdom is displayed through the church, which comprises both Jews and Gentiles. This wisdom is made known to the rulers and authorities of the heavenlies. We know from Paul that God and Christ reside in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:20–21), but aside from these, the only other rulers and authorities mentioned by Paul are evil. First, in Ephesians 1:21 Paul explains that Jesus is head over all rule and authority. Next, he explains that the Ephesians have been rescued by God even when they were under the influence of the prince of the power of the air who is at work in the disobedient (Ephesians 2:2). Finally, in Ephesians 6:12, Paul explicitly exhorts the Ephesians to stand guard against the dark powers of the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies. In each case, the only powers in the heavenlies besides God are evil. Thus, we should take it that the rulers and authorities of the heavenlies mentioned in Ephesians 3:10 are also evil.¹⁷

Counterargument:

It is not clear that each instance of Paul’s mentioning the power of the heavenlies is a reference only to evil powers. In Ephesians 1:21, he notes that Jesus is above every rule and authority and above every name that is named. Then, in Ephesians 3:15, he states that he bows before the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth is named. There is a clear connection in these verses between the names that Jesus is above, and the fact that these names come from God. This means that Ephesians 1:21 includes not only evil rulers and authorities but every ruler and authority. That is, Jesus is above every name in heaven and on earth.

Thus, Paul makes sweeping statements about the grandeur of God’s plan, a plan that is on full display through the unity of the church and makes God’s manifold wisdom known to every created intelligent being of every dimension.¹⁸

Explanation:

Paul’s audience is located in Asia Minor during the first century AD. At this time the rulers and authorities were often deified and worshipped.¹⁹ In fact, there were laws that compelled the worship of the emperor, and failure to do so could result in death. For most of the citizens of Rome, worshipping the emperor was no difficult task, but for the Christians who worshipped Christ, this imperial requirement was impossible. In fact, we know from history that many Christians were persecuted and killed for their resistance to worshipping the emperor. Paul likely has this difficult concern in mind when he writes to the Ephesians.²⁰ He wants them to remember that even though the rulers and authorities of the Roman empire are governed by the evil powers located in the heavenlies, God displays his manifold wisdom through the unity of the Ephesians gathered as a church. In other words, although the church may seem vulnerable in comparison to the awesome might of the Roman authorities, the church has the upper hand because it bears the manifold wisdom of God. Even though the evil rulers and authorities tried to disrupt God’s plan, his success in Christ is now on full display through the church 

Counterargument:

There are aspects of this view that are no doubt true. It is the case that God displays his manifold wisdom to the evil forces that continually tried to thwart his plan. Jesus’ life was threatened from his birth (Matthew 2:16) until his unjust crucifixion on the cross. Although the powers of dark forces thought they had won, God displays his manifold wisdom through the church, reconciled through the blood of Jesus Christ, thus silencing every power and dominion. Still, we should not assume that this powerful display of God’s manifold wisdom is only for the dark forces.

In fact, Paul makes clear the manifold wisdom of God, displayed in the unity of the church, was a revelation for everyone, including Paul himself (Ephesians 3:3). This is important to remember because before Paul states that God’s manifold wisdom is made known to the rulers and authorities through the church, he explains that the inclusion of Gentiles into the promises of Israel was a revelation to all the prophets and apostles (Ephesians 3:5–6). The fact is that none from the generations before Christ’s ministry, whether circumcised, prophet, angel, or demon, understood that God would include the Gentiles in his covenant promises through faith. Paul is a minister of this glorious news, hidden for ages, and now revealed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places through the church.

Possible weaknesses:

The problem with this view is that it is hard to see why God would make his manifold wisdom known only to the evil rulers and authorities. We know from Scripture that the angels are interested in God’s salvation work, and the context suggests that the inclusion of the Gentiles was an astounding revelation to every being, including the prophets and apostles. Given the logic and the context, it makes most sense that Paul is speaking broadly about all rulers and authorities in the heavenlies.

Explanation:

Paul uses exalted language and thought-content through Ephesians 3:7–13, which suggests that he is not speaking about evil powers.²¹ In fact, Paul labours to elevate the mercy of God for including the Gentiles as heirs of the promise. This mercy reflects God’s goodness to the angels so they would understand the depth of the goodness and wisdom of God.

Counterargument:

That Paul uses exalted language and thought-content does not exclude the fact that through the church God’s manifold wisdom is on full display to the evil powers. In fact, the notion that Paul has good and evil powers in mind elevates his thought-content even further. When the Ephesians were dead in their transgressions, God forgave them through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:5). This he did by nailing the debt of their transgressions to the cross which disarmed the rulers and authorities (Colossians 2:14) and put them to open shame by triumphing over them (Colossians 2:15).

Thus, the unity of the church, made possible through the blood of Christ, not only makes known God’s manifold wisdom to the good angels but also puts to shame the evil authorities by triumphing over them.

Explanation:

The New Testament writers indicate that the angels are interested in God’s salvation plan.²² For example, in Luke 15:10 we learn that the angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents. Also, 1 Peter 1:12 indicates that the angels long to look into God’s salvation plan. Finally, in Revelation 5:11–12 we find myriads of myriads of angels worshipping the Lamb. Ephesians 3:10 harmonizes these instances beautifully, as God’s masterpiece of salvation is now made known through the church.²³

Counterargument:

While it is certainly true that God’s masterpiece of salvation is made known through the unity of the church, and that angels are interested in these matters, still, there is no reason to think that the dark rulers and authorities are excluded in Ephesians 3:10. The dark rulers and authorities play a role in Ephesians (Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12), and we should not be quick to dismiss the fact that God announces his manifold wisdom to these powers through the unity of the church.

Possible weaknesses:

The most that can be said about this view is that it is consistent with the fact that the angels are interested in God’s plan of salvation. Unfortunately, that is not enough to show that evil angels are excluded from the knowledge of God’s manifold wisdom displayed through the unity of the church. The fact is, Paul does not specify which rulers and authorities he has in mind. If anything, the generality of his statement suggests he has all heavenly beings in mind.